/troubleshooting

name: troubleshooting
description: Uses Chrome DevTools MCP and documentation to troubleshoot connection and target issues. Trigger this skill when list_pages, new_page, or navigate_page fail, or when the server initialization fails.

Troubleshooting Wizard

You are acting as a troubleshooting wizard to help the user configure and fix their Chrome DevTools MCP server setup. When this skill is triggered (e.g., because `list_pages`, `new_page`, or `navigate_page` failed, or the server wouldn't start), follow this step-by-step diagnostic process:

Step 1: Find and Read Configuration

Your first action should be to locate and read the MCP configuration file. Search for the following files in the user's workspace: `.mcp.json`, `.vscode/mcp.json`, `gemini-extension.json`, or `.gemini/settings.json` (or user-scoped files such as `~/.claude.json` if accessible).

If you find a configuration file, read and interpret it to identify potential issues such as:

• Incorrect arguments or flags.
• Missing environment variables.
• Usage of `--autoConnect` in incompatible environments.

If you cannot find any of these files, only then should you ask the user to provide their configuration file content.

Step 2: Triage Common Connection Errors

Before reading documentation or suggesting configuration changes, check if the error message matches one of the following common patterns.

Error: `Could not find DevToolsActivePort`

This error is highly specific to the `--autoConnect` feature. It means the MCP server cannot find the file created by a running, debuggable Chrome instance. This is not a generic connection failure.

Your primary goal is to guide the user to ensure Chrome is running and properly configured. Do not immediately suggest switching to `--browserUrl`. Follow this exact sequence:

1. **Ask the user to confirm that the correct Chrome version** (e.g., "Chrome Canary" if the error mentions it) is currently running. 2. **If the user confirms it is running, instruct them to enable remote debugging.** Be very specific about the URL and the action: "Please open a new tab in Chrome, navigate to `chrome://inspect/#remote-debugging`, and make sure the 'Enable remote debugging' checkbox is checked." 3. **Once the user confirms both steps, your only next action should be to call the `list_pages` tool.** This is the simplest and safest way to verify if the connection is now successful. Do not retry the original, more complex command yet. 4. **If `list_pages` succeeds, the problem is resolved.** If it still fails with the same error, then you can proceed to the more advanced steps like suggesting `--browserUrl` or checking for sandboxing issues.

Symptom: Server starts but creates a new empty profile

If the server starts successfully but `list_pages` returns an empty list or creates a new profile instead of connecting to the existing Chrome instance, check for typos in the arguments.

• **Check for flag typos:** For example, `--autoBronnect` instead of `--autoConnect`.
• **Verify the configuration:** Ensure the arguments match the expected flags exactly.

Symptom: Missing Tools / Only a few tools available

If the server starts successfully but only a limited subset of tools (like `list_pages`, `list_console_messages`, `get_console_message`, `list_network_requests`) are available, this is likely because the MCP client is enforcing a **read-only mode**.

All tools in `chrome-devtools-mcp` are annotated with `readOnlyHint: true` (for safe, non-modifying tools) or `readOnlyHint: false` (for tools that modify browser state, like `emulate`, `click`, `navigate_page`). To access the full suite of tools, the user must disable read-only mode in their MCP client (e.g., by exiting "Plan Mode" in Gemini CLI or adjusting their client's tool safety settings).

Symptom: Extension tools are missing or extensions fail to load

If the tools related to extensions (like `install_extension`) are not available, or if the extensions you load are not functioning:

1. **Check for the `--categoryExtensions` flag**: Ensure this flag is passed in the MCP server configuration to enable the extension category tools.

Other Common Errors

Identify other error messages from the failed tool call or the MCP initialization logs:

• `Target closed`
• "Tool not found" (check if they are using `--slim` which only enables navigation, script evaluation and screenshot tools).
• Missing `pageId`: Page-scoped tools require a `pageId` argument. Call `list_pages` to find active page IDs.
• `ProtocolError: Network.enable timed out` or `The socket connection was closed unexpectedly`
• `Error [ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND]: Cannot find module`
• Any sandboxing or host validation errors.

Step 3: Read Known Issues

Read the contents of https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/main/docs/troubleshooting.md to map the error to a known issue. Pay close attention to:

• Sandboxing restrictions (macOS Seatbelt, Linux containers).
• WSL requirements.
• `--autoConnect` handshakes, timeouts, and requirements (requires **running** Chrome 144+).

Step 4: Formulate a Configuration

Based on the exact error and the user's environment (OS, MCP client), formulate the correct MCP configuration snippet. Check if they need to:

• Pass `--browser-url=http://127.0.0.1:9222` instead of `--autoConnect` (e.g. if they are in a sandboxed environment like Claude Desktop).
• Enable remote debugging in Chrome (`chrome://inspect/#remote-debugging`) and accept the connection prompt. **Ask the user to verify this is enabled if using `--autoConnect`.**
• Add `--logFile <absolute_path_to_log_file>` to capture debug logs for analysis.
• Increase `startup_timeout_ms` (e.g. to 20000) if using Codex on Windows.

_If you are unsure of the user's configuration, ask the user to provide their current MCP server JSON configuration._

Step 5: Run Diagnostic Commands

If the issue is still unclear, run diagnostic commands to test t